Music to Your Ears

By Michael Henningsen

Folksinger David Rovics; appearing Saturday, Oct. 2, in the Lobo Room at UNM's Student Union Building as part of a peppy little feel-good event centered around the symposium, "From Empire to Empowerment: Organizing and Resisting in New Mexico” on Oct. 1 and 2 on the UNM Campus.

Before taking what is hopefully a short break from the live circuit, KI will play a “farewell” show on Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Launchpad with a veritable slew of kick-ass locals: The Dirty Novels, Hit By a Bus, Lousy Robot and Rage Against Martin Sheen. If you miss this one, you'll be missing KI for at least a handful of weeks. ... One of the best local band shows I've seen in ages happened two months ago at the YMCA. It was an all-ages, alcohol-free showcase that featured six local bands—mostly representing the younger set—and it turned out to be a searing testament to local talent. On Thursday, Oct. 7, the Mountainside YMCA will present its second local “Band It Together,” showcase featuring all-local bands at its branch location (12500 Comanche NE) from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Local heroes Unit 7 Drain are slated to headline. Call 292-2298 for more information. ... The world's first entirely online record label, ItsAboutMusic.com, launched five years ago to zero press, but has since grown into a digital entity representing some 200 artists (including Willie Nelson and other big-name acts) whose goal is to get their music to the masses without all the corporate bullshit that comes with major label record deals. At ItsAboutMusic.com, music is sold exclusively via the site, either through shipping CDs to customers or making purchased music immediately available for download. Affiliated artists enjoy wide distribution, CD-on-demand manufacturing and a publicity and promotion department to help push artists wares to the public. For more information, visit www.ItsAboutMusic.com.

Charles Sandoval of CJ & The Blackhorse Band; opening for Brooks & Dunn Sunday, Oct. 3, on the side stage at Journal Pavilion.